2004-2006 Chrysler Pacifica crossovers

After only two years of Daimler-based delays, the Chrysler Pacifica appeared in
Spring 2003 as a 2004 model. The Pacifica
featured "step-across" height, which means you neither climb up nor
climb down to get in; you simply sit down into the seat.

Sales of early models was poor, as they were fully loaded and could
cost over $40,000. Lower-priced versions sold better but were not barnstormers despite the attractive looks, inside and out.

There were two basic versions, one with six seats and a third fold-flat
seat, and another with just two rows of seats. Both all wheel drive and front wheel drive were available.

The Chrysler Pacifica was developed in 30 months at a cost below $1
billion, and it was closely based on the minivans. Production began in early 2003 at the Windsor, Ontario
Assembly Plant.

Common Pacifica repairs

The Pacifica seemed
to be very reliable with few, if any, real weak points. Be sure to use
the correct transmission fluid and oil grade - see the owner's manual -
do not use “generic” or “ignore them, I know
what’s best” grades.

Sometimes the front power
seat or memory seat feature could fail due to a static power discharge.
Fixing it required adding a jumper wire to ground the power seat
module. This was not something many people will want to do themselves,
but a dealer could do it in about 45 minutes - and it should be done for
free as per TSB 08-039-05. This only affected Pacificas made between January 19, 2004 and June 30, 2005.

Chrysler extended the engine-cradle warranty to 10 years or 150,000 miles for 2004-05 Pacificas (customers were notified in November 2010). At the time, the company offered to cover what customers had already spent on the repair. Customers should be able to get a free inspection for corrosion on the rear cross car cradle support at the dealer — if the corrosion is severe enough (light surface rust is presumably not covered), the part will be replaced.

General Chrysler Pacifica information

Powered by a 250 horsepower (250 lb-ft of torque) version of the Chrysler 300M
3.5 V6 (some base models had a 3.8 liter V6 instead), connected to an AutoStick four-speed automatic, the Pacifica Limited had a load levelling rear suspension, four-wheel antilock
brakes, power adjusted pedals with memory, and:

In the 2005 model year, a base Pacifica with a 3.8 liter minivan engine was produced; it had better grunt but less
horsepower - so it may have been more satisfying in day to day traffic but not
so much on all-out acceleration.

The Pacifica's interior was completely different from any other
Chrysler vehicle, and combined elegance, practicality, and room for
telematics - indeed, a navigation system was cleverly placed right in the middle of the instrument panel, a feature which has not been replicated, as far as we know.
The version on display featured all wheel drive, though reportedly a
front wheel drive version would also be available.

Strips of wood - real
or false, we couldn't tell - accent well defined doors and the
dashboard. The navigation system did not dominate the car, but it also
didn't show as much information as most. We did, we must say, truly
and sincerely appreciate the fact that the navigation system did not
interfere with the audio system! In most navigation systems, the audio
system had to be integrated in to save space, making it difficult to
operate the stereo without losing sight of the road.

The few minivan style touches included a movable (we think) center
console, and rear controls for ventilation and audio functions.

The
rear hatch moved up and down under power, just like it does in the
Caravan, and we would be surprised if the all wheel drive system did
not also borrow from the Grand Caravan.

The controls and center stack all seemed sensibly designed and
attractive to look at. Seat controls were on the door, where they were
easier to locate.

The appearance throughout the interior was surprisingly subtle and
pleasant (surprising only because Audi's Freeman Thomas was let loose
in the Chrysler design studios, and we'd normally expect garish
TT-style aluminum knobs everywhere).

In Chrysler's words:

The Chrysler Pacifica's driver-oriented instrument panel is enhanced
with dynamic lines, accelerating curves and robust surfaces. The
ignition switch is conveniently located on the instrument panel, which
is designed with precise, flush-fitted surfaces and features satin
silver accents, completing the vehicle's high-quality appearance.

A wood accent is used on the instrument panel and continues on the
top of the doors into the second-row seating area. The shifter knob is
leather-wrapped with a chrome accent. The shifter bezel is finished in
the same silver accent as the door trim and instrument panel bezels.

The instrument cluster features an integrated navigation system
directly in the driver's view. The technology is referred to as "thin
film transfer display," which makes viewing the navigation information
as easy as viewing the speedometer. Navigation controls are flush, easy
to reach and conveniently located on the instrument panel to the right
of the cluster.

Both first- and second-row seats are chair-height, giving occupants
a strong sense of security and command-of-the-road while providing
excellent ingress and egress. For versatility, second and third row
seats conveniently fold flat. And for ultimate first-class travel,
passengers seated in the second row will enjoy the comfort and
convenience of heated captain's chairs.

Power controls are conveniently located on the door panel where the
driver and passenger may adjust memory seats, lumbar support, thigh
support, adjustable pedals or heated seats. In addition, Chrysler
Pacifica features a continuous, full-length center console complete
with dual cup holders, storage area and adjustable air outlets. A
flip-down, roof-mounted DVD screen is available to rear seat occupants
and a theater-style surround sound audio system comes complete with
eight Infinity® speakers, bringing movies and music to life.

Safety

Mike
Donoughe, Vice President-Family Vehicle Product Team, cited safety
features such as "The first-class seating position, cockpit-style
controls, all-wheel-drive and sport-sedan handling help the driver
avoid accidents. If a crash does occur, safety systems such as the
three-row side curtain air bags help keep occupants safe. We set
stringent internal safety targets right from the beginning of
development and carried them all the way through production."

"Chrysler Pacifica is one of world's first vehicles to offer a
three-row side curtain air bag, that will be standard equipment on the
vehicle which goes on sale in the spring of 2003. The ceiling-mounted
side curtain air bag deploys downward and provides full-side window
coverage. The air bag was tested to the voluntary standards set by the
industry's Side Air Bag Technical Working Group. In addition, Chrysler
Group engineers also used the 'pole test,' which mimics accidents such
as hitting a telephone pole or tree, to evaluate the side air bag
sensing system. These types of accidents may be severe because the
crash forces are concentrated in a relatively small area of the
vehicle."

"Chrysler Pacifica meets Chrysler engineers' strict criteria for
handling and stability. The unique sports tourer package is designed
with a wide track for optimal handling and stability. Although the
Chrysler Pacifica is taller than most passenger cars, its suspension,
steering and ride are calibrated to achieve sport sedan cornering and
handling qualities.”

Chrysler Pacifica's advanced restraint system encompassed the seat
belts, air bags and sensors to optimize occupant protection in the
event of a crash. In addition to the side curtain air bag, Chrysler
Pacifica also provided the first Chrysler inflatable knee blocker.
Located just below the steering column, the knee blocker helped to
reduce potential leg injuries in a crash. It also aided in appropriately
positioning the driver to get the full safety benefit of the total
restraint system.

Enhanced multi-stage driver and passenger air bags deployed at various
levels based on the severity of the crash. Two charges in the air bag
module were triggered separately. A minor impact would trigger a
low-power deployment while a severe impact would deploy a more
high-powered discharge in order to optimize occupant protection. The
sophisticated driver air bag worked in conjunction with the
energy-absorbing steering wheel, patented steering column and
inflatable knee blocker to provide supplemental restraints in frontal
or near-frontal impacts.

Safety was reinforced in styling, with an ironic twist: Joe Dehner,
Director of Design, said, "With Pacifica, we revisited the proportions
of glass to sheet metal. We wanted the side profile to be two-thirds
sheet metal and one-third glass. More sheet metal and less glass
communicates an armored, protective quality to the consumer." In short,
visibility, which increased safety of the occupants and, probably to a
greater degree, of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists, was
lessened in order to convey safety to the owner.

Using Bluetooth, communication was driven through a user's personal
mobile phone, and worked both inside and outside the vehicle. Like
OnStar, the system allowed the audio to be heard through the radio
speakers, while a microphone was in the mirror. The user's mobile phone
may then be placed wherever the user chose within the vehicle.
Conversations may be continued upon entering or exiting, without
disrupting the call. Calls may be linked to UConnect within 30 feet of
the vehicle. The system included voice dialing, an audio address book,
mute, caller ID (with the phone number of the caller showing up on the
radio display), three languages, the ability to recognize up to five
phones, and the ability to work with different carriers.

The original Pacifica page

Long
ago, we suggested that, since most SUV buyers seemed to use them as
commuter or family vehicles, it might make sense to simply disguise a
minivan as an SUV. Then the clever automaker could simply mark up the
price and hire a macho celebrity, such as Paul Hogan, to sell it. (To
be fair, this was hardly an original thought, since Subaru had done it
with their Legacy station wagon.) GM did just that with the Aztek and
Rendezvous. Chrysler was going to do the same...but, apparently,
stopped at the last minute and changed quite a bit of the Pacifica,
giving it a rear suspension resembling the Mercedes E-class and making
many other changes, so it is on its own platform (for real, we are
assured) - and, by the way, is also not a reshaped Mercedes.

Production was due to start at the Windsor, Ontario minivan plant in
2002. (Pacifica tooling was being installed at Windsor
Assembly Plant. However, the remainder wasn't due for install until
April. Then they would be running metal runs for crash testing until early
2003. You wouldn't see a production vehicle until then. Thanks, Jeff!)

The Pacifica was powered by the 3.5 liter V6, and would be available
with both front and all wheel drive (it would normally use front wheel
drive but all wheel drive would be available on demand). Prices were
reportedly set around $25,000 with six-passenger seating, including two
rows of bucket seats and adjustable pedals.

The Citadel concept used a hybrid powertrain similar to that
projected for the Durango and Ram hybrids of 2004. It also featured
dual sliding rear doors and a retractable cargo door, just like a
minivan, for easy wheelchair or cargo access.